Mary Maisie Manning

Mary "Maisie" Lackey Manning passed away Sunday, Jan. 16, at the age of 82. She attended Little Rock High School and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she was a Razorback cheerleader and was twice elected president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She later returned to the University of Arkansas and completed requirements for master's and educational specialist's degrees. She was a nationally certified school psychologist and certified psychological examiner. She spent 28 years as a school psychology specialist in Arkansas schools, including schools in Little Rock, Springdale, Fort Smith and Newport. She was also a licensed counselor, and after retiring from Newport schools she set up her own educational consulting firm. She served as president of Arkansas Evaluation in Counseling and on the boards of the Arkansas School Psychology Association and the Arkansas Counseling Association. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Newport, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Fraternity, Newport Country Club and served on the Jackson County Tourism Council. Maisie loved music, especially jazz. She was an accomplished pianist, playing easily by ear, and for nearly 10 years led a jazz trio known as "So Fine," which played for wedding receptions and many special events at the Newport Country Club. The most important thing in her life, however, was her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frances and Hendrix Lackey of Mountain View and Little Rock, and a sister, Jean Reynolds of Texarkana. She is survived by her husband, Van E. Manning Jr., of Newport; a son, Ed Barham (Susan) of Little Rock; daughters Dr. Beth Barham of Fayetteville (Peter Roe); Sarah Rausch (Mike) of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Leigh Ann Barham of Fayetteville; two stepchildren, Susan Manning Ashcraft of Little Rock, and Van Mark Manning of Bentonville. Also surviving are her brother Guy "Buddy" Lackey and her sister Carol Lackey Patterson, both of Little Rock. She is survived by nine grandchildren: Ben Barham (Jill) of Little Rock; Sarah Roe Voorheis of Fayetteville; Hayley Rausch of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Alex and Ethan Hetherington of Fayetteville; Luke Hubbard of Little Rock; Jess and Mary Catherine Manning of Bentonville and Kayla Ashcraft of Dallas. Also surviving are a niece, Lesa Lackey Doan, and nephews Guy Lackey, and Joe, Larry, and Chris Patterson. There will be a visitation from 10 to 12 noon on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Jackson's Funeral Home in Newport. A church service will be held that afternoon at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Newport with Rev. Alan Ford officiating. A graveside service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19. All funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jackson's Funeral Home in Newport. Pallbearers in both Newport and Little Rock will be: Ben Barham, Alex and Ethan Hetherington, Luke Hubbard, Jess Manning, Larry and Chris Patterson, Chris and Keegan Doan and Bobby Alcorn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Newport, or the Rockefeller Cancer Institute, preferably the Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research. www.jacksonsfh.com.